Buckle.



J. B. BAXTER.

aucm.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 2. 1915- 1,186,163. PatentedJune 6,1916.

i B a F UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. BAXTER, OF TROY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 COVERT MANUFACTURING CO., OF TROY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed October 12, 1915. Serial No. 55,381.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN B. BAXTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improvement in buckles and pertains more particularly to that type of buckle wherein the frame part is a malleable casting. Buckles of this type are largely used in connection with harness.

Heretofore it has been customary to form the cast frame in such a manner that the roller bar is of a smaller diameter or cross section than the side bars or rear bar or bars of the buckle. The metallic sleeve or roller used in connection with such buckles is placed around the bar of smaller diameter.

In gating the molds in which the castings are formed, it has been found expedient and necessary to gate at the roller bar and when the castings are removed the projecting fin of metal left at the point of gating requires grinding off so as to produce a proper finish for the buckle. It has been found that in casting buckles of this type, owing to the reduced diameter of the roller carrying bar, during the process of shrinking, a disruption of the union between one end of the roller bar and side bar often occurs, thus rendering the casting useless. Usually this defect is not apparent at first, but as it passes through the process of finishing it becomes more pronounced. Thus it is necessary to expend considerable time A on sorting, but even then considerable quantities of defective castings are unintentionally completed, sold, attached to harness or kindred goods and put into actual service which naturally causes trouble and further expense before the defect is discovered.

The present invention is designed to overcome the objections heretofore found to exist in the prior practice and in addition thereto provide a suitable bearing for the roller or sleeve at points adjacent the ends thereof and of a diameter substantially that of the interior diameter of the sleeve,

thereby preventing wabbling or lateral movement of the sleeve on the bar.

In the accompanying drawings a conventional type of buckle is shown, but it is to be understood that the invention is applicable to all various types of buckle frames and buckles of the cast variety as Well as buckles having loops thereon.

In the drawings: Figure 1 represents a buckle having the improvement, the same being shown in elevation; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the sleeve removed; Fig. 3 is a cross section through the line 11 of Fig. 1.

A designates the side bars and B the tongue bar of the usual form of cast buckle frame. The tongue is indicated at C.

D designates the roller bar positioned be tween the forward extremities of the side bars and cast integral therewith. Heretofore in the art, these bars D have been substantially of uniform diameter throughout, thereby forming a union of relatively small area between the same and the ends of the side bars. The older practice also necessitated the forming of abrupt angles in the molds, which would frequently break down, leaving an objectionable fin or rough projection at the union. In the improved buckle the diameter of the roller bearing D is materially less than the cross sectional diameter of the ends of the side bars as shown, and to strengthen the union between the two bars, suitable fillets E are cast, the same representing conical extensions of the side bars merging into the smaller cylindrical portion of the bar D. These fillets terminate a short distance inwardly from the side bars, leaving the major portion of the bar D of its normal diameter.

F designates the roller or sleeve, which as shown, is formed of a split metal strip bent around the bar D. The diameter of v the roller is substantially that of the greater diameter of the fillets and the length of the sleeve is such that the ends thereof rest on the inclined outer portions of the fillets. By this means the sleeves are enabled to be drawn substantially close to the fillets by In the formation of the buckle as above described with the fillet connections and shaping the sleeve to fit the larger diameters of the fillets in the manufacture of the buckles, the metal may be gatedin the mold to the bar part D at any point between the fillets. Upon the removal of the casting from the mold the gate fins are broken close to the bar D and are below the plane of the larger diameters of the fillets. By this means the roller sleeve will embrace the roughened fin part left on the bar D and avoid the necessity and expense of grinding or finishing off the gate fin. Owing to the fillet bearing for the roller, the roller will 11 ve a free, smooth rotary motion without interference on the part thereof by any slight projection of the gate fin.

A further advantage of this arrangement and construction of casting is that the sleeve can be properly placed on the bar D and its fillets with uniform die pressure, thus preventing any crushing or accidental improper indentation of the sleeve by being brought into contact with the projecting fin on the bar D.

In practice it has been found that by the present invention the necessity of operation of gate fin finishing is obviated; the roller sleeve is provided with a proper end bearing, and the danger and loss of breaking away of the metal at the joint between the relatively small bar and the larger side bars is entirely obviated. It will also be noted that by the employment of a fillet during the process of casting the sharp angle heretofore encountered at the point in the sand mold between the small diameter bar and the side bars is dispensed with, thereby preventing a loss from defective castings by the sand of the molds crumbling or breaking down at the sharp angle.

In the production of buckles in accordance with this invention considerable expense is saved, not only in molding and breakage, but also in the finishing of the frame.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and. desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a buckle or the like, a frame part comprising side bars, a cross bar, and a roller bar, the latter having a portion of less diameter than the side bars, and fillet connections between the roller bar and the side bars.

2. In a buckle or the like, a frame part comprising side bars, a cross bar and a roller bar, the latter having an intermediate portion of less diameter than the side bars, and tapered fillet connections between the ends of roller bar and the side bars.

3. A buckle or the like comprising side bars, a cross bar of less diameter than the side bars, tapered fillets between the side bars and the ends of the cross bar, and a sleeve mounted on the fillets.

a. A buckle comprising side bars, a cross bar of a diameter less than the diameter of the side bars, fillets at the juncture between the side bars and cross bar, the structure being cast as a unit, and a sleeve loosely mounted on the fillet.

5. A buckle comprising east side bars, an integrally associated cross bar of a diameter less than the ends of the side bars, strengthening fillets integral with the cross bar and side bars, and a sleeve loosely positioned on the cross bar.

6. A buckle comprising side bars, a cross bar, fillets at the juncture between the side bars and cross bar, the said buckle being cast as a unit.

7. A buckle or the like comprising side bars, a cross bar having a portion of less diameter than the side bars, and strengthening fillets at the juncture of the cross bar and side bars. the entire structure being integral.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. BAXTER.

Witnesses Gnonen H. LEE, HARRY A. SAUTER,

Copies 0! thin patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington. D. G. 

